University of La Verne News

Classroom Technology Upgrades Underway This Summer

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) and the Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at the University of La Verne are working around the clock to install new state of the art technology in 50 classrooms on the main campus.

Some of the upgrades include new 20-inch wide format and articulating monitors, Blu-ray DVD players, projector screens, a menu driven touch pad and Apple TVs. Faculty and students will have the option of using their own laptops or a provided PC to utilize Apple TV for educational resources. The upgrades are expected to be completed in select classrooms by June 30.

“Teaching is a creative profession, and technology is here to support that. These tools will assist in the process of bringing the two worlds together,” said Kristin Lewis, WebEx Technical Support Trainer.

An integral part of the new technology, the Extron Touchlink Graphical Controller, is a fingertip controller that allows faculty to face forward and interact with the class, rather than having to turn away from students to face a board. The software within the touchlink keypad powers on displays in the classroom and routes the desired sources, which might be the desktop computer, a laptop, or even an iPhone as integrated into classroom instruction. With so much at the lecturer’s fingertips, instructions and presentations can be more interactive and engaging.

Senior Director of IT Hany Seyam and his team assessed the technology aspects of La Verne’s classrooms and worked to ensure that the pedagogic, academic and technological needs of the students and faculty were the focus of the classroom update plan.